There is a double standard: White terrorists are dealt with as lone wolves, Islamists are existential threats

first, this guy was considered a lone wolf: .

So was the Fort Hood guy.

Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

What larger group was the Unabomber working for? He was operating as a lone wolf.

Rev. Skarekroe:Funny that the party responsible hasn't sent out a manifesto or anything.What if it's just a maniac who gets off on seeing people killed?

That's why I wouldn't call this a terrorist attack, despite the fact that we call every act of violence a terrorist attack nowadays. Like the Batman theater shooter. They kept calling it terrorism but it was just a psycho with a lot of guns. Terrorists have agendas that they let you know about.

Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

Not "the gubermint is poisonin' us with fluoride and imported sponges from gay-lovin' countries" crazy, more like "those buildings look structurally unsound, so I'll deliver a contained blast of nails to provide architectural support, which will count as a good deed towards getting me out of this Matrix-like virtual reality simulator" kind of crazy.

Pocket Ninja:Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

SlothB77:Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

RexTalionis:SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

Exactly. The Soviets were, in theory, an existential threat because they could drop nukes on all our major cities. Islamic terrorists are pissants.

Pocket Ninja:Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

RexTalionis:SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

RexTalionis:SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will may have the potential to end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

Actually, I'm going to clarify that sentence a bit. See how I'm trying to be precise about my meaning? Try doing that instead of hand-wringing, teeth-gnashing fear-mongering.

FTFA: In those awful episodes, a religious or ethnic minority group lacking such privilege would likely be collectively slandered and/or targeted with surveillance or profiling (or worse) if some of its individuals comprised most of the mass shooters. However, white male privilege means white men are not collectively denigrated/targeted for those shootings - even though most come at the hands of white dudes.Likewise, in the context of terrorist attacks, such privilege means white non-Islamic terrorists are typically portrayed not as representative of whole groups or ideologies, but as "lone wolf" threats to be dealt with as isolated law enforcement matters.

He's not wrong. In fact he's pretty dead on.To a lesser extent you can see this in American historical perspective with Black radicals, and other groups that were not considered "white" at the time: re: the association of European racial minorities with anarchism or treason throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But yeah, the headline is unnecessarily provocative and somewhat misleading.

Jackson Herring:Pocket Ninja: Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

RexTalionis:RexTalionis: SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will may have the potential to end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

Actually, I'm going to clarify that sentence a bit. See how I'm trying to be precise about my meaning? Try doing that instead of hand-wringing, teeth-gnashing fear-mongering.

If you are being precise, what do you mean by "end the existence to the thing"?

RexTalionis:An existential threat is one that will end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

I don't think the author would disagree with that. Islamism is perceived and promoted by reactionary American politicians and groups as an existential threat ('FW:FW:FW:FW:FW: SHARIALAW WILL END AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT") in the same way that the Birchers used to treat the UN as an existential threat. The maintenance of fear and paranoia requires the stand-in objects to be this powerful in the minds of those promoting the fear and paranoia in the populace. That's why you see accusations like "History's Greatest Monster" hurled at the President. That at happens within culture instead of nukes makes it all the more INSIDIOUS.

tenpoundsofcheese:RexTalionis: RexTalionis: SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will may have the potential to end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

Actually, I'm going to clarify that sentence a bit. See how I'm trying to be precise about my meaning? Try doing that instead of hand-wringing, teeth-gnashing fear-mongering.

If you are being precise, what do you mean by "end the existence to the thing"?

ex·ist·encenoun/igˈzistəns/existences, plural

The fact or state of living or having objective reality- the plane was the oldest Boeing remaining in existence- the need to acknowledge the existence of a problemContinued survival- she helped to keep the company alive when its very existence was threatenedA way of living- living in a city was more expensive than a rural existenceAny of a person's supposed current, future, or past lives on this earth- reaping the consequences of evil deeds sown in previous existencesA being or entityAll that exists

Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

Pocket Ninja:Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

RexTalionis:SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

But but but I read Nietsche in my women's studies undergraduate seminar on deconstructing the tropes of the patriachal white hegemony. So there.

Pocket Ninja:Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

Pocket Ninja:Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

But pressure cookers? Come now. Nothing you propose covers his hate for a pressurized cooking device for speedy deep frying of chicken with 11 herbs and spices.

I think your scenario is therefore far fetched.

This was clearly the work of a transsexual failed pole dancer who is overweight due to KFC.

I_C_Weener:Pocket Ninja: Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

But pressure cookers? Come now. Nothing you propose covers his hate for a pressurized cooking device for speedy deep frying of chicken with 11 herbs and spices.

I think your scenario is therefore far fetched.

This was clearly the work of a transsexual failed pole dancer who is overweight due to KFC.

Jake Havechek:We're going to find the motherfarker, whomever it is, and tear them a new asshole.

No, they're going to find a scapegoat to stop people from panicking while the parties responsible get away with it for a decade or so until they're finally caught and it'll be on the back page of the paper.

Pocket Ninja:Can you imagine if he turns out to be gay? Hoooo boy, that would muddy the water.

How about a gay lone wolf terrorist who had a brief career as an abortion doctor specializing in late-term abortions.

Oh, oh, I know. I gay lone wolf former late-term abortionist terrorist who owns over a dozen handguns and automatic rifles all purchased at gun shows. And he entered the country illegally 15 years ago and has been living here ever since. And he's an atheist.

RexTalionis:tenpoundsofcheese: RexTalionis: RexTalionis: SlothB77: Second, Islamists declaring terrorism in the name of allah, with muslim groups taking responsibility, i.e., an islamic terrorist group took credit for the failed Times Square bombing, are existential threats.

I don't think you understand the word "existential." An existential threat is one that will may have the potential to end the existence to the thing that the threat is existential to. Unless those Islamists apparently also have hundreds of nuclear weapons aimed at us, it is not an existential threat.

People just like to use the word "existential threat" as a short-hand for "wow, I'm really worried, look at me pissing in my pants and soiling myself." Stop it. It's sloppy. It's inaccurate. It's intellectually dishonest and it's stupid.

Actually, I'm going to clarify that sentence a bit. See how I'm trying to be precise about my meaning? Try doing that instead of hand-wringing, teeth-gnashing fear-mongering.

If you are being precise, what do you mean by "end the existence to the thing"?

ex·ist·encenoun/igˈzistəns/existences, plural

The fact or state of living or having objective reality- the plane was the oldest Boeing remaining in existence- the need to acknowledge the existence of a problemContinued survival- she helped to keep the company alive when its very existence was threatenedA way of living- living in a city was more expensive than a rural existenceAny of a person's supposed current, future, or past lives on this earth- reaping the consequences of evil deeds sown in previous existencesA being or entityAll that exists

DamnYankees:For the psyche of Americans, TFA is basically correct. We deal with terrorists from white people much more sanely, as pathetic as that is.

As a whole, yes. It's part of human nature to treat "the other" worse than someone you might identify a bit with. However, within the US, there is the same amount of hatred for "the other" between groups: Urban vs. rural, Left vs. Right, white vs. black, black vs. Latino, etc.

In fact, the author is engaging in their own hatred here in hoping it is his "other". How about we put the political grandstanding and cheerleading on hold until we get some investigation done?

/most of the "reporting" in the 24-48 hours after a major event turns out wrong, a lie, or both.

muck4doo:I_C_Weener: Pocket Ninja: Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

But pressure cookers? Come now. Nothing you propose covers his hate for a pressurized cooking device for speedy deep frying of chicken with 11 herbs and spices.

I think your scenario is therefore far fetched.

This was clearly the work of a transsexual failed pole dancer who is overweight due to KFC.

I really hope this doesn't lead to a ban of 11 herbs and spices. :(

Would the addition of herbs and spices have turned this into a "dirty" bomb?

I_C_Weener:Pocket Ninja: Hm, you know, it's possible that the Israelian Brony aspect of his persona may provide the most telling backstory. Consider the possibilities...maybe, as a child, he was visiting a petting farm in his native country to see the ponies. He got a little too far from his parents and had an unfortunate accident with the hay bailer. The accident almost took his left arm and he would have bled to death if not for the presence of a doctor, who was able to perform a life-saving transfusion using blood from the farm's only pig, which died. And yes, he did save the young Israelian brony's life, but at what cost? His blood defiled, now; he would spend the rest of his life seen as half pig. The vilest of the vile. Hey pig boy, they would yell at him. His parents disowned him. His world became twisted, isolated, filled with hate. He wanted to lash out, to strike back at anyone and everything. It's sad, really. With a start like that, it's hard to imagine someone not becoming an atheist, gay, undocumented immigrant former late-term abortion providing and non-background-checked gun owning lone wolf terrorist.

But pressure cookers? Come now. Nothing you propose covers his hate for a pressurized cooking device for speedy deep frying of chicken with 11 herbs and spices.

I think your scenario is therefore far fetched.

This was clearly the work of a transsexual failed pole dancer who is overweight due to KFC.

I bet he's even got a Commie flag tacked up on the side of his garage wall.